Ansonia makes history with Class S state title

Michael Fornabaio

Updated 12:40 am, Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome moves the ball, during Class S football championship action against Woodland at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.

Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome crosses into the endzone for a touchdown, during Class S football championship action against Woodland at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013. Looking to stop Newsome is Woodland's Taylor Tucciarone.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Woodland's Chris Slavin reaches for a loose ball knocked out of Ansonia's Tajik Bagley's control, during Class S football championship action at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Ansonia's Head Coach Thomas Brockett is hoisted into the air as the team wins the Class S football championship against Woodland 51-12 at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Ansonia's Head Coach Thomas Brockett is hoisted into the air as the...

Ansonia celebrates its win over Woodland 51-12 after Class S football championship action at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Ansonia's Tyler Bailey celebrates after the team's win over Woodland 51-12 for the Class S football championship at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Ansonia celebrates its win over Woodland 51-12 after Class S football championship action at Central Connecticut State University's Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. on Friday December 13, 2013.
Photo: Christian Abraham

NEW BRITAIN -- A quick start was crucial for Ansonia against Woodland, the Chargers thought Friday. Woodland's tough defense could be a factor in the Class S football title game; the Chargers needed big plays early.

And then the Chargers forced turnovers on Woodland's first two plays.

Top-ranked Ansonia was never headed in a 51-12 win at Central Connecticut's Arute Field, winning its 19th state title (third in a row and most in the state) and its 43rd straight game.

"I'm proud of how hard we worked, how far we've come: 43 wins in a row," said star tailback Arkeel Newsome, who broke his own single-season rushing record with a 42-yard run to start the second half, then passed for a touchdown.

"This (title) means a little more, my senior year, the third one in a row."

Newsome finished with 34 carries for 259 yards and four touchdowns; he ran 333 times in 15 games (all wins, the first state team to go 15-0) for 3,867 yards this year, topping his sophomore-year mark of 3,763. In all as he graduates, he had a state-record 10,672 rushing yards.

But his teammates for second-seeded Ansonia made huge plays on the first two plays for the fourth-seeded Hawks (12-3).

Sophomore Tyler Bailey intercepted Woodland quarterback Tanner Kingsley on the first play of the game, picking off a floater at the Ansonia 38.

"He's a good quarterback. We had to play their receivers tough," Bailey said. "Coach had told me to watch for that certain route."

Seven plays later, the Chargers led for good on Newsome's 6-yard run. Kingsley completed his next pass to Jack Pinho, but Bailey's big hit popped the ball up in the air.

Enter junior Witold Gul, who caught it and ran it back 27 yards to make it 14-0.

"It was spectacular. I just saw the ball come off the other receiver," Gul said. "We just exploded from that play."

Bailey had another interception in the back of the end zone in the second quarter with Ansonia leading 21-6. It took the Chargers eight plays to go those 80 yards -- Newsome again, 8 yards